NHTSA Complaint #10195017 — 2006 JEEP LIBERTY

WHILE DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICED DIESEL FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE FUEL HEATER CONNECTOR LOCATED IN THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING. I PULLED THE CONNECTOR OFF AND FOUND IT PARTIALLY DAMAGED BY EXCESS HEAT AT THE CONNECTOR TERMINAL AND WET WITH FUEL. I LEFT THE CONNECTOR DISCONNECTED FROM THE HOUSING UNTIL I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE FILTER HOUSING ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY. THE BURNED/DAMAGED CONNECTOR WAS NOT REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE HOUSING WAS REPLACED. I DON'T HAVE THE OLD HOUSING, BUT I COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THE DAMAGED CONNECTOR/TERMINAL THAT WAS STILL ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS EXCESS AIR IN THE FILTER HOUSING BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HOUSING. AFTER THE HOUSING WAS REPLACED THERE WAS STILL EXCESS AIR, BUT NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS BEFORE. WHILE THE CONNECTOR WAS OFF, AND I WAS WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START 2 SEPARATE TIMES BECAUSE AIR WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE CONNECTOR. I HAD TO PUMP THE PRIMER THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE FILTER HOUSING TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED BOTH TIMES.*AK